How is nobody talking about this? All power napping to stay up tonight and watch the women?

I was super surprised by Tamara Gorman's performance as well. If I'm not mistaken, Emma Jeffcoat, the reigning U-23 champ from 2016, also had a less than stellar performance last year in Rotterdam. Maybe it's a year-after curse?

After last night though, I guess my money is on Taylor Spivey to win tonight?

 I am not sure why Alec was looking around and seemingly waiting for someone between his first swim lap and coming out of the water into T1. Was he looking for a teammate or something to swim and ride with?

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Yes he was racing for Seth last night.


In regards to the Podium Project, I take the opposite approach. We need a much longer viewpoint with this than quick results. They have some good talent in that group right now, but let them train, let them race and get their ass handed to them on international field and then lets see if they win. Let them.....develop!

Results right now shouldn't be any justification in that process, as we aren't close to getting on a podium at an itu event with the men. They need to time to train and not worry about results.

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Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II

That explains it, but why’s he racing for Seth in the first place?

Jeffcoat crashed last year didn't she, which hampered her ability to defend. It's also worth noting that the courses are very different between Cozumel, Rotterdam & Gold Coast... so in the case of Gorman, Rotterdam was super wet and super technical, Gold coast is a tougher swim with the surf, dry, and not very technical, and quite flat... In fact the GC course is much closer to Cozumel (just not as scorching, since it's still technically winter in Oz...), but Rotterdam was drastically different... That probably is a large influencer... The other factor is that Gorman raced a lot more this year than last year if my memory serves correctly, so she was probably coming in less fresh... And then the obvious difference, that Knibb is the Spirig-like bike monster of the U23 field... completely shifting the race dynamic...

The men's race, all I can say is that Reid smashed it, but holy shit, Bicsak's close was ridiculous... if he can make some improvements in the swiim, he could be Mola like a few years on, and might give others nightmares like Mario does these days... Little disappointed in how Bergere rolled over at the end there, but I think he was absolutey cracked (based on how wobbly his legs looked when he made the turn into the finish chute)...

To do exactly what he did last night. Crack the swim, create a gap and bike to keep chase pack away. Alec did great job last night. Put Seth in position to run for top 5 place. Seth just didn’t have it. Shit happens, sometimes at the worse time and most important race.

ETA: Alec hasn't developed the run *yet*, and Seth Rider for the U-23 field has a very competitive front pack swim and run. A lot of funding opportunities can come when you "play ball" with federations and Alec did his job great last night. Seth just had some stomach cramp issues, and watching he kinda looked antsy on the bike from watching the feed. But he'll live to fight another day.

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Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II

Jeffcoat didn't crash at U-23 Worlds last year, that was a different race (New Plymouth earlier this year). She had a rough swim in Rotterdam though, and one of the girls in her pack crashed, but she didn't. She ended up 18th after attempting to make up a 1:50 deficit off the bike. But yes, that bike course was super technical, more so with the weather that day. As for Gorman racing more this year, that could have definitely played a role. She came off the bike with the first chase group, but after her run, ended up 18th.

People are on the other thread.

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Aaron Bales
Lansing Triathlon Team

Great call Brooks. Let them develop! The model seems sound, the talent seems strong, now let’s give it some time to work.

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Aaron Bales
Lansing Triathlon Team

Tamara has been injured on the run. Just getting healthy. Give her time, she'll be back. She was 2nd and 7th in W.Cups this year, so I think her season has been solid. Just needs to be healthy for a few months.

Seth looked like he was cracked from the get go on the run, and frequently was dangling on the back of the front group. (I watched in person) He might have had a stomach cramp but it looked like he was toast in the first 400 of the run. He's had plenty of strong races and is only 21. I will not be surprised if he's in Tokyo for the MTR or the individual race.

What???
Emma Jeffcoat isn't the reigning champion of anything, pretty sure Lindeman won in 2016.

Yep you’re right. Jeffcoat was ranked 1st coming into the race in Rotterdam, wasn’t the reigning champ though. My bad! Good catch

Was at a 5k turkey trot in DC yesterday spectating with about 1/2 mile to go and noticed the first woman looked extraordinarily strong and powerful stride and was quite close to the male leaders. Looked her up afterwards: Taylor Knibb. 16:54.